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WELLSBURG -- Wellsburg Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of a handicap-accessible door for City Hall and gave its blessing to plans by the Wellsburg Baseball Association to install batting cages at a local park.
Council approved the $19,114 purchase of a bifold electronic door for City Hall from Wayne Doors using funds awarded to the city through the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act.
Prior to the vote, 2nd Ward Councilman Paul T. Billiard noted council has been planning to replace the front steps to the building with a handicap-accessible ramp. He asked whether that should be pursued first.
City Manager Steve Maguschak and Tom A. Diserio, the city's building inspector; said because the doors open inward, they shouldn't affect any changes to the front steps.
Maguschak noted the city must spend the C.A.R.E.S. Act funds this month or it will lose them.
He said just one contractor has offered an estimate for the handicap-accessible ramp and he's approaching additional contractors who may be interested.
Council also authorized the Wellsburg Baseball-Softball Association to install two batting cages and eight soft-toss stations at the Betty Carr Recreation Site.
Following the meeting, Tom R. Diserio, a representative of the group, said the batting cages will be equipped with mechanical pitch devices while the soft-toss stations will have batting tees while all will accommodate coaches and others pitching to the youth.
The cages will replace an old batting cage on the park's tennis court.
Diserio asked for city crews to remove fencing around the court so it may be used around the new cages and to drill holes for them so they may be used next spring.
He said the cost of the cages and stations will be paid through money generated by a monthly drawing and other fundraisers held by the group.
Diserio said the group hopes to raise funds for other improvements to the park. Tentative plans include a building that would house handicap-accessible restrooms and a new concession stand, lighting and a water line that would reduce the spread of dust when the ball field is dragged.
He said the group provides a recreational outlet for about 200 boys and girls, from pre-schoolers to teens, and no one is turned away because of inability to pay.
In other business, Collector-treasurer Andrea Morris requested a raise to make her salary closer to other city supervisors.
Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher noted Morris' position is an elected one and council can't change its salary during her current term, meaning it would have to be effective following the next city election. The matter was referred to the city's finance committee.
Council also approved the appointment by Mayor Sue Simonetti of Kevin Jones and Michelle Temple to the city's urban redevelopment authority, a volunteer board involved with pursuing the redevelopment of unused property in Wellsburg.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)